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Rooted

Women’s Health

Primary dysmenorrhea

6 plants

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Primary means you have thought about endometriosis, adenomyosis, and IUD malposition. Ginger 750–2000 mg in the first 3 days has multiple RCTs vs placebo and vs NSAID in some trials — effect is real and modest. Fennel seed has smaller human data. Chaste tree is a luteal/PMS plant, not an acute cramp rescue.

Primary plants

  1. Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
    1
    GingerHuman data

    Zingiber officinale

    Best plant RCT file for primary dysmenorrhea. Start at onset of bleed.

    Typical. Dried powder 750–2000 mg/day in divided doses for the first 3 days of menses (trial range).

    Safety. This is powder/capsule, not dinner ginger. Watch bleeding if on anticoagulants.

  2. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
    2
    FennelHuman data

    Foeniculum vulgare

    Small RCTs for dysmenorrhea vs NSAID or placebo. Seed, not essential oil.

    Typical. Seed 1–2 g or fennel extract as studied, at onset.

    Safety. Apiaceae allergy. High-dose essential oil is not the seed trial.

  3. True cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum)
    3
    True cinnamonHuman data

    Cinnamomum verum

    Small human dysmenorrhea data. Prefer C. verum; cassia is the high-coumarin problem for repeated cycles.

    Typical. Powder 1–3 g/day short course. Cassia (C. cassia) is higher-coumarin.

    Safety. Cassia coumarin/liver at high chronic dose. Bleeding caution theoretical.

Supportive plants3
  • German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
    German chamomileStrong traditional
    Matricaria chamomilla

    Traditional pelvic spasmolytic tea. Adjunct, not the primary evidence plant.

    Typical. Flower tea during menses.

    Safety. Asteraceae allergy.

  • White willow (Salix alba)
    White willowStrong traditional
    Salix alba

    Salicin for cramp pain when NSAIDs are the idea but they want a bark. Same class risks.

    Typical. Bark extract short course.

    Safety. Bleed, ulcer, pregnancy (still no), kids.

  • Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus)
    Chaste treeHuman data
    Vitex agnus-castus

    PMS and luteal-symptom file. Not an acute hour-of-pain rescue.

    Typical. Fruit extract 20–40 mg/day over months for PMS-type pictures.

    Safety. Hormone-sensitive cancer, pregnancy, Parkinson’s/DA antagonists. Not a same-day analgesic.

Clinical notes

  • Pain that starts mid-cycle, is progressive year to year, or is not relieved by NSAIDs is not “just cramps.”
  • Heat + NSAID still wins most of the time. Ginger is the add-on with data.
  • Copper IUD can unmask or worsen dysmenorrhea — check the device history.

When this is not enough

  • Progressive secondary dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, infertility — think endometriosis
  • Acute abdomen, fever, missed period — pregnancy/ectopic/PID
  • Hemodynamic instability from menorrhagia

Rooted is a private clinical reference for licensed practitioners. It is educational, not a treatment protocol, and not a substitute for the chart, the exam, or pharmacy review. Plant medicines interact with drugs and can harm liver, kidney, heart, pregnancy, and children.

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